JSO investigating string of weekend robberies

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A string of weekend robberies, some with weapons drawn and shots fired, has investigators busy.

Haley Smith of Green Cove Springs made a stop to pump gas on the Westside at Holiday Grocery, but didn't know she stopped at the same store that was robbed Sunday night.

"I actually come up here often, I come up here a lot, and I've never heard about anything bad happening around here, I know this is usually a nice neighborhood," said Smith.

The store is one of five businesses targeted in Jacksonville in less than 48 hours. Police have two suspects in custody but the search continues for other possible suspects.

On the Southside, police are searching for an unknown suspect who entered the Wendy's at 8625 Baymeadows Road Saturday around 7:30 p.m.

The suspect was wearing a ski mask and gloves. Police say he displayed a gun, fired a round and handed an employee a backpack to fill with cash. After taking undisclosed amount of cash he fled on foot. No one was hurt.

Five hours later, after midnight on Sunday, a suspect also covering his head and hands entered the Kangaroo Gas station at 10401 Normandy Blvd. He demanded money then fled on foot.

Police say around 3 a.m. Sunday a Hess Express gas station on the Westside was also robbed by a suspect with his hands and head covered and is believed to have had a weapon.

At 9 p.m., a robbery at Holiday Grocery store on Shindler Drive ended with the suspect being shot by the store owner. Police say the suspect walked in demanding money and had his arm covered, giving the appearance that he was armed. Police say the owner of the store shot the suspect in the chest. The suspect was found a block away from the business and was transported to the hospital. Some cash was recovered.

After midnight Monday another robbery took place when a man said he was attacked and robbed by two men in the parking lot of CVS Pharmacy on Roosevelt Blvd and San Juan Avenue. Police were able to capture one suspectand are still searching for the second.

Police say the suspects in each robbery fled on foot. Haley Smith says she understands how the robberies can instill fear in a lot of business owners, but that the store owner's reaction at Holiday Grocery will set an example for other business owners.

"I think that it will make more store owners want to fight back and give them maybe more courage to fight back," said Smith.